Doubledeck-bed arrangement

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a cabin or double deck-bed arrangement of the type incorporating two substantially similar beds providing repose or reclining surfaces and which are arranged above one another in tier-like fashion to afford the double deck-bed arrangement. Between the superimposed beds there are provided four pivotal supports which connect the head and foot ends of the bed frames of both beds with one another. Each two pivotal supports together with the bed frames interconnected thereby form a four-point pivot linkage mechanism by means of which the upper bed can be downwardly pivoted while being retained in substantial parallelism with respect to the lower bed.

United States Patent Winterthur I 1 DOUBLEDECK-BED ARRANGEMENT [72] Inventor: Hans Fickler Winterthur, Ursulaweg 20, Switzerland [22] Filed: Feb. 5, 1971 [21] Appl. N0.: 112,958

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS France ..5/8

[45] Sept. 26, 1972 Primary Examiner-Casmir A. Nunberg Att0rney-Werner W. Kleeman 5 7] ABSTRACT There is disclosed a cabin or double deck-bed arrangement of the type incorporating; two substantially similar beds providing repose or reclining surfaces and which are arranged above oneanother in tier-like fashion to afiord the double deck-bed arrangement. Between the superimposed beds there are provided four pivotal supports which connect the head and foot ends of the bed frames of both beds with one another. Each two pivotal supports together with the bed frames interconnected thereby form a four-point pivot linkage mechanism by means of which the upper bed can be downwardly pivoted while being retained in substantial parallelism with respect to the lower bed.

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures l DOUBLEDECK-BED ARRANGEMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention concerns the furniture art and, more specifically, deals with a novel type of cabin or double deck-bed arrangement possessing two reclining or repose surfaces situated in superimposed fashion.

Such type double deck-bed arrangements are commonly found in the cabins of ships or boats, yet however are also used in living areas, such as apartments and homes, especially for children, when the available space is limited so as to make maximum use thereof. The same considerations have prompted erection of such type double deck-bed arrangements in air raid shelters and emergency hospitals.

Now, in order to render the upper bed of such type double deck-bed arrangement accessible, typically use is made of a step or a ladder which the user must stand upon so as to be able to again make up the. bed after use. Otherwise, it is extremely difficult, if not almost impossible, particularly for short people, to com fortably make the bed. If a step or ladder is not available it is necessary to similarly stand upon a chair or similar device for the above-explained purpose, and resorting to these techniques for gaining access to the upper bed is neither comfortable nor absolutely safe.

- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, there is still present a real need inthis particular art for a construction of double deck-bed arrangement which is not associated with the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art constructions. Hence, a primary object of this invention is to provide a new and improved type of cabin bed or doubletdeckbed arrangement of the type described which effectively and reliably fulfills the existing need in the art and evercomes the aforementioned drawbacks of the existing type cabin bed structures.

Another and more specific object of the present invention relates to a double deck-bed construction allowing the upper bed to be placed into a lower position, typically when it is desired to make-up the bed or arrange same, and to do so comfortably, allowing the person working on the bed to reach such while standing securely on the floor or supporting surface.

Still a further significant object of the present invention is to provide a double deck-bed arrangement permitting ready disassembly into two separate erectable beds so that, when conditions require, for instance if one of the users is ill, or if ultimately the available space becomes greater, it is possible to erect these beds in spaced relationship from one another as opposed to the prior superimposed relationship.

With the foregoing objective in mind, it is still a further aim of this invention to provide a double deckbed arrangement which enables the user to acquire the beds individually in succession, and then thereafter to unite such into the double deck-bed arrangement when desired.

Now, in order to implement these and still further objects of the invention, which will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, the double deck-bed arrangement of the mentioned type is characterized by the features that there are provided two beds, preferably of identical construction, so that they can be assembled into a tier or superimposed relationship while connecting between the superimposed beds four pivotal supports which couple the head and foot of the frames of both beds to one another. The arrangement is such that each two of these pivotal supports together with the bed frames interconnected thereby form a four-point'pivot linkage mechanism, by means of which it is possible to downwardly pivot or rock the 0 upper bed while retaining it substantially parallel to the lower bed.

In this connection, it is mentioned that according to a preferred constructional manifestation of the invention at least the posts of the bed frames intended to be used for interconnecting both beds to one another comprise hollow profile members. Further, the pivotal supports advantageously possess pin members destined to be in-.

serted in the hollow profile members. Hence, it is also possible when disassembling the beds to advantageously insert in each such hollow post of the bed frame, instead of a pivotal support, if desired, also a foot or pedestal member by means of a pin provided at such pedestal member. The length of the foot or BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a preferred form of double deck-bed arrangement designed according to the invention, depicting the upper bed rocked into its lower or pivoted-out position, while the phantom line showing of the upper bed illustrates same in its starting position prior to the time that it is pivoted down;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, depicting details of two of the aligned bed posts of the two superimposed bed frames and which bed posts are interconnected by a pivot or pivotal support; I

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged view, quite similar to the showing of FIG. 2, but this time depicting the position of the components when the upper bed has been rocked into its lower position; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the arrangement of FIG. 3, and specifically a sectional view through the pivotal support thereof, taken substantially along the line X-X of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Describing now the drawings, the exemplary embodiment of cabin bed of the invention will be seen to comprise an upper bed unit I and a lower bed unit 2 which, for the purpose of providing the double deck-bed arrangement, shown in FIG. 1 in phantom lines, has connected between these beds or bed units 1, 2 four pivotal supports 5 and 6 which interconnect the head and foot ends 3 and 4 of both beds 1, 2 with one another. In FIG. 1 only two of the pivotal supports 5 and 6 serving to mount the beds 1 and 2 in superimposed or tier fashion are visible. In each instance two pivotal supports 5 and 6 together with the bed frames 3 and 4 interconnected thereby serve to provide a four-point hinge mechanism, by means of which the upper bed 1 can be pivoted down while it is retained substantially parallel to the lower bed 2. This four-point hinge mechanism will be seen to be constituted by the four pivot points or articulation joints 7, 8, 9 and 10 which define the corners of a parallelogram consisting of both bed frames 3 and 4 which are parallel to one another in each position and the pivotal supports 5 and 6 which are similarly located in each position parallel to one another.

Now, it will be understood that each of the four pivotal supports 5, 6 comprises two terminal elements 11 and 12 coupled with both bed frames 3 and 4 and a lever arm 13 articulated or pivoted to the associated terminal elements 11 and 12 by means of a respective pivot pin or pivot axis, whereby specifically the pivot pins for the pivotal support 5 of FIG. 1 coincides with the pivot points 7 and 9 and in the case of the pivotal support 6 coincides with the pivot points 8 and 10. Both of the pivotal lever arm 13, visible in the showing of FIG. 1, can be rocked from the vertical position which they assume when the beds are in superimposed fashion and as shown in phantom lines into the horizontal full-line position about the lower pivot axes or shafts 9 and 10 when the upper bed 1 is downwardly pivoted with respect to the lower bed 2.

So as to enable releasable coupling of the bed frames 3 and 4 and the pivotal supports 5, 6 with one another without having to resort to the use of tools, it is advantageous if ,at least the vertically extending posts 14 and of the bed frames 3 and 4 of both beds 1 and 2 and which posts are utilized for achieving the connection of the beds with one another are designed to possess a hollow construction by forming such posts as hollow profile members. These hollow profile posts l4 and 15 advantageously can possess a circular or square cross-sectional configuration, and the end or terminal elements 11 and 12 of all of the pivotal supports 5, 6 are equipped with appropriately shaped pins or plugs 16 and 17 intended to be releasably inserted into an associated hollow profile post member and fitting exactly therein. FIG. 2 illustrates particularly well the manner in which the pin or plug 16 at the upper end of the pivotal support 13 and the pin or plug 17 at the lower end of this pivotal support can be inserted into the corresponding hollow profile post 14 and 15, respectively, of the upper and lower bed frames 3 and 4. As should be readily appreciated, the other corners of the bed arrangement would have similar connections.

By referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 it will be seen that the terminal or end elements 11 and 12 of each pivotal support 5 and 6, and specifically at the region thereof, bounding the associated plug or pin l6, 17, for instance in the case of the terminal element 11 the region bounding the plug 16 and in the case of the terminal element 12 at the region bounding the plug 17, possess a hollow construction, in other words these terminal elements 11 and 12 are likewise formed as hollow profile members. Now, within the cross-section of each such hollow profile terminal element 11 and 12 there is mounted an associated pivot shaft or bolt serving as the pivot axis. Hence, in the arrangement shown in FIG. 2 only the pivot bolts or shafts 8 and 10 are visible for the terminal elements 11 and 12, respectively, yet it will be recalled that at the opposite side of the bed there would then be located the pivot bolts or shafts 7 and 9 which are of similar construction to what has just been explained. Thus, it will be understood that each pivotal lever .arm 13 extending between both terminal elements 11, 12 is secured at each end upon a respective associated pivot bolt or shaft, for instance pivot bolts 8 and 10 for the lever arm 13 visible in the showing of FIG. 2. The corresponding end of the pivotal lever arm 13 attached to such pivot bolt is then located within the hollow profile of the associated terminal element 11, 12, and to allow the requisite pivoting action of the pivotal lever member or lever arm to occur such hollow profile-terminal elements 11,.12 must be provided with an appropriate cut-out or recess at one side. Thus, for instance, in the case of the terminal element 11 shown in FIG. 2 the recess or cut-out portion has been indicated at location 18, and in the case of the terminal element 12 this cut-out or recess'has been indicated at location 19, these recesses 18, 19 extending over the width of the lever arm 13 to allow such to be rocked from the position of FIG. 2 to that of FIG. 3.

Since in the embodiment under consideration both of the beds 1 and 2 possess hollow posts 14 and .15 of the same height, there is advantageously provideda pedestal or foot portion 20 at the lower bed 2-of FIG. 1 to allow this bed to be elevationally erected at the desired location from the support or floor. To this end, each pedestal or foot portion 20 likewise possesses a pin or plug 21 at its upper end which can be inserted from below into the hollow posts 15. In the event that the beds 1 and 2 are disassembled, similar foot or pedestal members 20 can be inserted into the posts of the other bed 1. If desired, conventional rollers or casters can be provided for these pedestal or foot members 20.

Now, in order to facilitate return of the bed which has been rocked down into its lower position back into its position of use where both of the beds 1 and 2 are located in tier-like or superimposed fashion, there can be advantageously provided weight compensating springs which may be, for instance, in the form of torsion springs 22 as best shown by referring to FIGS. 2-4. As particularly well shown in FIG. 4, each torsion spring 22 may be formed as a spiral or helical spring surrounding an end of the associated pivot bolt, bolt 10 in FIG. 4, which extends to one side past the associated terminal element 12 of the pivotal support. Stated in another way, the pivot bolt extends through the associated spring. A sleeve member 23 is then pushed over the pivot bolt and such spring and can be fixed to the pivot bolt, with one end of the spring being anchored in the sleeve member 23. The other flexed end of the spring is then fixedly retained or supported at the associated terminal element, namely terminal element 12 of FIG. 4. Hence, by means of the sleeve member 23 which can be rotated and fixed with respect to the associated pivot bolt or shaft 10 it is possible to pre-bias or pre-stress the spring 22 to retain such in its extended position, and which then exerts a force between the terminal element and the pivotal lever arm. It is equally possible for the weight compensation or balancing springs to be designed as pressure springs, one such spring being located at each end of the bed and extending diagonally between the lower and upper thereof as well as the multiple utility afforded both as a double deck-bed and also as individual beds, additionally the inventive construction renders possible assembly and disassembly of these beds'without resorting to the use of any tools, and which beds are very rationally manufacturable according to the standard building-block principle.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A double deck-bed arrangement for providing a pair of superimposed repose surfaces, comprising a. at least two beds, each having a bed frame possessing a lengthwise extending axis;

b. each bed frame having four corner posts;

c. means for releasably interconnecting said two beds over one another in a double deck arrangement through the agency of said corner posts; said interconnecting means comprising i. four pivotal supports for connecting the end regions of the bed frames of both beds to one another in superimposed relationship;

ii. each two pivotal supports together with the bed frame interconnected thereby defining a fourpoint pivotal linkage mechanism;

iii. each pivotal support comprising a lever arm member and a terminal element at each end of said lever arm member pivotably connected therewith by a respective pivot bolt defining a pivot axis extending substantially parallel to said lengthwise extending axis of each associated bed frame, to permit lateral pivoting of the upper bed frame in a direction substantially perpendicular to the lengthwise extending axis of such bed frame and downwardly and substantially parallel to the lower located bed, and wherein the terminal elements of said pivotal support are easily releasably connected with said corner posts in order to be able to separately erect the bed frames alongside of one another.

2. A double deck-bed arrangement as defined in claim 1, each said corner post comprising a hollow profile member, each terminal element of said pivotal supports possessing a pin member insertable in the associated hollow profile member.

3. A double deck-bed arrangement as defined in claim 2 further including pedestal members equipped with pin means insertable into given ones of said hollow corner posts, so that there can be-optionally inserted into such hollow corner posts either said pivotal supports or said pedestal members, or both.

4. A double deck-bed arrangement as defined in claim 3, wherein said pedestal members are inserted into the lower situated bed of the double deck arrange ment to raise said lower situated bed at a desired spacing from the supporting floor.

5. A double deck-bed arrangement as defined in claim 3, wherein said pedestal members are inserted into the hollow corner posts of both beds when separated from one another, to selectively space at a desired elevation each such bed from the supporting floor.

6. A double deck-bed arrangement as defined in claim 1, further including weight compensating spring means cooperating with said interconnecting means for facilitating return of the upper bed after it has been rocked down back into its position of use where such upper bed is located in superimposed relationship with respect to the lower situated bed.

7. A double deck-bed arrangement as defined in claim 6, wherein said weight compensating spring means comprise pressure spring means arranged at each end of the double deck arrangement and extend ing diagonally between the lower and upper located beds when such beds are disposed in superimposed relationship.

8. A double deck-bed arrangement for providing a pair of superimposed repose surfaces, comprising at least two beds, each having a bed frame, means for releasably interconnecting said two beds over one another in a double deck arrangement, said interconnecting means comprising four pivotal supports for connecting the end regions of the bed frames of both beds to one another in superimposed relationship, each two pivotal supports together with the bed frames interconnected thereby defining a four-point pivotal linkage mechanism to enable the upper located bed to be rocked downwardly and substantially parallel to the lower located bed, each of the pivotal supports comprising a lever arm member and a terminal element at each of said lever arm member pivotably connected therewith by a respective pivot bolt, said terminal elements being detachably mountable at the associated bed frame, said lever arm members extending substantially vertically when said beds are arranged in superimposed relationship with respect to one another, while said lever arms pivot about their lower situated pivot bolts from the vertically extending position into a substantially horizontal position when the upper bed is downwardly rocked with respect to the lower bed, each of said bed frames incorporating posts for receiving said interconnectingmeans, each said post comprising a hollow profile member, each terminal element of said pivotal supports possessing a pin member insertable in the associated hollow profile member, each such terminal element of each pivotal support being constructed as a hollow profile member at the region bounding its associated pin member, and a given one of said pivot bolts is mounted at such hollow profile member of said terminal element to provide an axis of rotation for the associated pivotal support, a respective end of said lever arm member extending between its associated terminal elements being pivotably mounted upon each such pivot bolt, said hollow profile member.

of each terminal element having a recess to allow pivotable movement of the end of the lever arm ing past its associated terminal element, each helical spring member being arranged about said extending end of the associated pivot bolt, a sleeve member fixedly mounted upon each extending end of each pivot bolt, one end of said helical spring member being con nected with its associated pivot bolt and the other end being anchored at said sleeve member to enable prebiasing of each such helical spring member by the associated sleeve member.

t I l t i 

1. A double deck-bed arrangement for providing a pair of superimposed repose surfaces, comprising a. at least two beds, each having a bed frame possessing a lengthwise extending axis; b. each bed frame having four corner posts; c. means for releasably interconnecting said two beds over one another in a double deck arrangement through the agency of said corner posts; said interconnecting means comprising i. four pivotal supports for connecting the end regions of the bed frames of both beds to one another in superimposed relationship; ii. each two pivotal supports together with the bed frame interconnected thereby defining a four-point pivotal linkage mechanism; iii. each pivotal support comprising a lever arm member and a terminal element at each end of said lever arm member pivotably connected therewith by a respective pivot bolt defining a pivot axis extending substantially parallel to said lengthwise extending axis of each associated bed frame, to permit lateral pivoting of the upper bed frame in a direction substantially perpendicular to the lengthwise extending axis of such bed frame and downwardly and substantially parallel to the lower located bed, and wherein the terminal elements of said pivotal support are easily releasably connected with said corner posts in order to be able to separately erect the bed frames alongside of one another.
 2. A double deck-bed arrangement as defined in claim 1, each said corner post comprising a hollow profile member, each terminal element of said pivotal supports possessing a pin member insertable in the associated hollow profile member.
 3. A double deck-bed arrangement as defined in claim 2 further including pedestal members equipped with pin means insertable into given ones of said hollow corner posts, so that there can be optionally inserted into such hollow corner posts either said pivotal supports or said pedestal members, or both.
 4. A double deck-bed arrangement as defined in claim 3, wherein said pedestal members are inserted into the lower situated bed of the double deck arrangement to raise said lower situated bed at a desired spacing from the supporting floor.
 5. A double deck-bed arrangement as defined in claim 3, wherein said pedestal members are inserted into the hollow corner posts of both beds when separated from one another, to selectively space at a desired elevation each such bed from the supporting floor.
 6. A double deck-bed arrangement as defined in claim 1, further including weight compensating spring means cooperating with said interconnecting means for facilitating return of the upper bed after it has been rocked down back into its position of use where such upper bed is located in superimposed relationship with respect to the lower situated bed.
 7. A double deck-bed arrangement as defined in claim 6, wherein said weight compensating spring means comprise pressure spring means arranged at each end of the double deck arrangement and extending diagonally between the lower and upper located beds when such beds are disposed in superimposed relationship.
 8. A double deck-bed arrangement for providing a pair of superimposed repose surfaces, comprising at least two beds, each having a bed frame, means for releasably interconnecting said two beds over one another in a double deck arrangement, said interconnecting means comprising four pivotal supports for connecting the end regions of the bed frames of both beds to one another in superimposed relationship, each two pivotal supports together with the bed frames interconnected thereby defining a four-point pivotal linkage mechanism to enable the upper located bed to be rocked downwardly and substantially parallel to the lower located bed, each of the pivotal supports comprising a lever arm member and a terminal element at each of said lever arm member pivotably connected therewith by a respective pivot bolt, said terminal elements being detachably mountable at the associated bed frame, said lever arm members extending substantially vertically when said beds are arranged in superimposed relationship with respect to one another, while said lever arms pivot about their lower situated pivot bolts from the vertically extending position into a substantially horizontal position when the upper bed is downwardly rocked with respect to the lower bed, each of said bed frames incorporating posts for receiving said interconnecting meaNs, each said post comprising a hollow profile member, each terminal element of said pivotal supports possessing a pin member insertable in the associated hollow profile member, each such terminal element of each pivotal support being constructed as a hollow profile member at the region bounding its associated pin member, and a given one of said pivot bolts is mounted at such hollow profile member of said terminal element to provide an axis of rotation for the associated pivotal support, a respective end of said lever arm member extending between its associated terminal elements being pivotably mounted upon each such pivot bolt, said hollow profile member of each terminal element having a recess to allow pivotable movement of the end of the lever arm member located within such hollow profile member of said terminal element at the associated pivot bolt.
 9. A double deck-bed arrangement as defined in claim 8, further including weight compensating spring means for facilitating return of the downwardly rocked upper bed back into its position of use where it is located in superimposed relationship with respect to the lower located bed, said weight compensating spring means comprising torsion springs in the form of helical spring members, each pivot bolt having an end extending past its associated terminal element, each helical spring member being arranged about said extending end of the associated pivot bolt, a sleeve member fixedly mounted upon each extending end of each pivot bolt, one end of said helical spring member being connected with its associated pivot bolt and the other end being anchored at said sleeve member to enable pre-biasing of each such helical spring member by the associated sleeve member. 